You would think at this point, bad weather wouldn't be much news at all. But three of the top eight stories this week were related to a short burst of blizzard that temporarily shut down Interstate 90 and brought in ridiculously cold temperatures to the region last weekend.

I'm not complaining, mind you. When I first came to the Journal, I was stuck with the label the weather guy. Part of it was a habit I picked up when I was a writer at the Hungry Horse News in northwest Montana. As the new guy on staff, I was charged with the task of writing the weather story of the week.

If you want to test your weather writing skills, try writing a weather preview story for a weekly newspaper in Rocky Mountain country. But it was fun.

In reality, my penchant for weather was more likely cultivated by the fact that my father, Chuck Williams, was a highway superintendent in the northern Black Hills for more than two decades before retiring a few years ago. In our house, The Weather Channel was prime time entertainment, even before they had their souped up weather reality shows and mostly showed the 10 day forecast and current weather conditions around the clock.

Of course, the blizzard passed, and it was news as usual as we tracked developments in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident near Dakota Middle School, Ali Nowotny's journey to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester to have a brain tumor surgically removed and the best in Christmas light displays throughout the Rapid City area.

Top Five Stories

1. Interstate closes as cars wreck throughout Rapid City

Most of state shut down by blizzard, bitter cold

As aforementioned, a whole lotta cold, a whole lotta wind and just a little bit of snow still means big blizzard. To be honest, the pre-storm fog and freezing rain had much more to do with hazardous travel conditions and the closing of Interstate 90 last Saturday night, but the whiteout conditions certainly didn't help.

Oh, yeah, and there was the cold.

2. Police seek hit-and-run driver that struck Rapid City girl

Readers flocked to the story of a pre-teen girl who was struck by a car as she crossed Fifth Street. The driver failed to stop as the girl lay unconscious in the busy street, but luckily, a bystander moved her off the road to avoid further disaster.

This morning, police say they now know who struck the girl. Stay tuned for further developments.

3. Sunday fire claims life in Spearfish

Authorities are still waiting for autopsy results that they hope will identify a person who was killed in an early morning home fire Sunday in Spearfish. The disturbing trend of house fires - and fatal house fires - continues in the region.

4. Fla. police: 1981 murder of Adam Walsh is solved

It's rare that a national story leads out in the top five stories that isn't a major political development, but the announcement by Flordia police that they have solved the murder of Adam Walsh more than a quarter century ago was remarkable.

It turns out that the man they long had believed killed the little boy after the youngster had disappeared was most certainly the killer. Of course, Adam's case became known by all Americans thanks to the tireless efforts of his father not only on his son's case but countless others through the "America's Most Wanted" program.

5. Leaning on faith, Ali Nowotny leaves for Mayo

Ali Nowotny, whose story first was published in the Journal after she put off brain surgery earlier this fall to compete at the state cheer competitions, left this week for the Mayo Clinic. See more below.

Top Five Videos

1. Extravagant Holiday Lighting 12-15-08

Move over Clark Griswold, you have nothing on Joe Lanoue of Rapid City. The music; the lights; the electric bill. As part of an ongoing Journal video/photo project, videographer Tim Appel is tracking down some of the best and brightest of Christmas light displays.

2. Ali Nowotny's Wada test

Ali undergoes a procedure in which doctors "freeze" part of her brain to determine how the removal of the tumor will affect her memory.

3. Extravagant Holiday Lights (2 of 3) 12-14-08

More lights; more Christmas cheer.

4. Extravagant Holiday Lights (1 of 3) 12-12-08

Look kids. Lights. Cheer. Parliament. Oops, sorry, wrong Vacation movie.

5. Raw Video: Iraqi Journalist Throws Shoe at Bush

Two things about President Bush's now famous show incident while making a surprise visit to Iraq. No. 1, he's got some wicked fast reflexes. That journalist was pretty close and doesn't have too bad of an arm. No. 2, he's got to get a better wingman. The Iraqi president standing right next to him barely budged as the shoe came a flyin'.

Rapid Replies of the Week

I'm going to be honest. I'm solidly in Red Stater's corner here when it comes to school closures and the cold.

I mean, if the buses don't start or there's a busted water main out there, you've got to shut down school. But closing school because of the cold makes less sense in many ways to closing school because it's too hot.

I guess it just further cements my status as an ornery old coot. At least Frosty The Snowman offers up a little humor.

Brrr on 12/15/2008 08:14:44 said:

"I cannot figure out why anyone is allowed to have school when it is this cold out. Some administrators apparently aren't able to feel or see cold, snow, icy roads, etc. Everyone be safe!"

Red Stater on 12/15/2008 09:33:58 said:

"Hey Real, get real. If we had stayed home every day it was below zero we'd still be waiting to graduate. Maybe you should call Al Gore and ask him where his global warming went."

Frosty The Snowman on 12/15/2008 09:40:38 said:

"People around here have gotten soft. I remember when I was a little boy, in the days before Al Gore while I was walking the 5 miles to school I saw a flock of crows get frozen in mid flight, they stayed up there until the spring thaw in June."

Poll of the Week

Hopefully, this list is changing daily toward the "all done" side, but never underestimate people's ability to procrastinate.

How are you coming with your Christmas shopping?

All done

508 23 percent

Need a couple more things

749 34 percent

Only just begun

307 14 percent

Haven't started

612 28 percent

Editor's Pick

Ali's Journey

If you haven't been following the inspirational story of St. Thomas More student Ali Nowotny and her journey to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., you're really missing out.

Reporter Lynn Taylor Rick and photographer/videographer Kristina Barker are at the Mayo with Ali and her father, Craig, as the high school senior undergoes a pair of operations to remove a brain tumor. Check in daily through this weekend to follow Ali's journey.